Have you ever eaten sweet potato? What if it was your only meal for a day. Let’s pretend you can’t even buy it from the supermarket, you have to steal it. Steal it from rubbish bins, just to feed you and your family. And you have very little chance to get a job because no one will hire you without an education. Or even a clean change of clothes. What do you do to live, how do you break the cycle?

You join the Circus.

This circus however, is not like any other. It was formed from The Phare Ponleu Selpak School in Battambang, that was created for marginalized street kids with a range of backgrounds, mainly emanating from systemic poverty in Cambodia, after the war. The Phare Ponleu Selpak School (Phare pronounced as ‘far’) translates to the brightness of the artsand began life in 1986 at a refugee camp on the Thai- Cambodian border. A group of 9 children who had taken part in drawing classes had the idea to form a creative group to help other children express the traumas of war. Following their repatriation in 1994, the Phare Ponleu Selpak School was born to give free education of the arts to all children, with no waiting lists. Phare has three main social missions: Provide gainful employment to Cambodian youth from difficult social and economic backgrounds, financially sustain their parent school thereby contributing to Cambodian modern art.

Formed to help relieve the tensions of the most troubled street kids, the Circus School at Phare has turned into a professional and international feature, giving the school the exposure it needs to attract international money and support from the wider community. Phare, the Cambodian Circus performs every night to a packed crowd – the sweat dripping off the performers like money from the tourists pockets, is how the school can keep growing and educating the 1200 students every single day.

Today, the main circus has a new home in Siem Reap. The new site was purchased for $550,000 US through a crowd funding campaign called ‘Home for Phare’, reinvesting profits, increased capital from shareholders and a loan from the Grameen Credit Agricole Foundation made it possible. They needed the new site for stability of the circus as renting in Siem Reap is unstable and expensive. The fact they were able to buy the land for the new site, shows just how far Phare has come in its short history.

Phare isn’t just a school, it’s a life given – to the kids, their families and the community around them. If one child joins, it’s likely all of his brothers and sisters will also follow suit. You get 10kilos of rice, a meal a day and the opportunity to live.

Two girls share breakfast before kindergarten begins at the Phare Ponleu Selpak School in Battambang, Cambodia.

The Phare Ponleu Selpak School (which translates to the ‘brightness of the arts’) began life in 1986 at a refugee camp on the Thai-Cambodian border. A group of 9 children who had taken part in drawing classes had the idea to form a creative group to help other children express the traumas of war. Following their repatriation in 1994, the Phare Ponleu Selpak School in Battambang was born to give free education of the arts to all children, with no waiting lists.

Kindergarten classes begin with English lessons for kindergarten kids at the Phare Ponleu Selpak School in Battambang, Cambodia.

The Phare Ponleu Selpak School (which translates to the ‘brightness of the arts’) began life in 1986 at a refugee camp on the Thai-Cambodian border. A group of 9 children who had taken part in drawing classes had the idea to form a creative group to help other children express the traumas of war. Following their repatriation in 1994, the Phare Ponleu Selpak School in Battambang was born to give free education of the arts to all children, with no waiting lists.

Curious children before kindergarten morning class begins at the Phare Ponleu Selpak School in Battambang, Cambodia.

The Phare Ponleu Selpak School (which translates to the ‘brightness of the arts’) began life in 1986 at a refugee camp on the Thai-Cambodian border. A group of 9 children who had taken part in drawing classes had the idea to form a creative group to help other children express the traumas of war. Following their repatriation in 1994, the Phare Ponleu Selpak School in Battambang was born to give free education of the arts to all children, with no waiting lists.

Volunteers and Phare circus artists planting trees donated from community groups at their new site in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

The new site was purchased for $550,000 US through a crowd funding campaign called ‘Home for Phare’, reinvesting profits, increased capital from shareholders and a loan from the Grameen Credit Agricole Foundation. They needed the new site for stability of the circus as renting in Siem Reap in unstable and getting more expensive as the city grows through development, the fact they were able to buy the land for the new site, shows just how far Phare has come in its short history.

Phare Ponleu Selpak School performs their nightly circus performance at their school in Battambang, Cambodia.

One of Phare Ponleu Selpak’s main attractions is the circus school. Formed to help relieve the tensions of the most troubled street kids, has turned into a professional and international feature, giving the school the exposure it needs to attract international money and support from the wider community. Phare, the Cambodian Circus performs every night to a packed crowd is one way the school can keep growing and educating the 1200 students every single day.

Phare Cambodian Circus rehearsing for one of their last nightly performances at the old Circus site in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Rehearsing in the shambles is worth the effort, the new site will provide stability for circus as renting in Siem Reap is unsustainable and getting more expensive as the city grows through development. The fact they were able to buy the land for the new site, shows just how far Phare has come in its short history. The new site was purchased for $550,000 US through a crowd funding campaign called ‘Home for Phare’, reinvesting profits, increased capital from shareholders and a loan from the Grameen Credit Agricole Foundation.

Impressive training and focus needed for their nightly rehearsal, before one of their last nightly performances at the old Circus site in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Rehearsing in the outdoor stage is worth the effort, the new site will provide stability for circus as renting in Siem Reap is unsustainable and getting more expensive as the city grows through development. The new site was purchased for $550,000 US through a crowd funding campaign called ‘Home for Phare’, reinvesting profits, increased capital from shareholders and a loan from the Grameen Credit Agricole Foundation.

A sweaty rehearsal for Phare Cambodian Circus as one of their last nightly performances at the old Circus site in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Rehearsing in the outdoor stage is worth the effort, the new site will provide stability for circus as renting in Siem Reap is unsustainable and getting more expensive as the city grows through development. The new site was purchased for $550,000 US through a crowd funding campaign called ‘Home for Phare’, reinvesting profits, increased capital from shareholders and a loan from the Grameen Credit Agricole Foundation.

Phare Cambodian Circus - from their origins at Phare Ponleu Selpak School to their new site in Siem Reap, they perform every night to a sold out crowd and have the opportunity to travel internationally with the circus.

Formed to help relieve the tensions of the most troubled street kids, Phare Circus has turned into a professional and international feature, giving the school the exposure it needs to attract international money and support from the wider community.

Assistant Operations Manager, Kakada Ung twirls fire as part of the 'Chills' performance by the Phare Circus at their nightly show in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Phare has three main social missions: Provide gainful employment to Cambodian youth from difficult social and economic backgrounds, financially sustain their parent organization Phare Ponleu Selpak (PPS) NGO school in Battambang and thereby contributing to Cambodian modern art. The circus formed from the PPS School for marginalized street kids with a range of backgrounds, mainly stemming from systemic poverty in Cambodia, and has turned into a professional and international venture, giving the school the exposure it needs to attract international money and support from the wider community.